The COOKHAM SOCIETY is an active local amenity society with more than 1,600 members and a very strong track record in looking after the interests of Cookham and its residents. Its aims are for the benefit of the public, to protect, preserve, improve or create features of general public amenity, historic, architectural, artistic, social or cultural importance and those relating to the beauty and ecology within the geographical area known as ‘The Cookhams’ in Berkshire.

The Society is neither political nor sectarian. ‘The Cookhams’, (Village, Rise and Dean), are enjoyed by countless visitors and non-residents are very welcome to join the Society and give their support to its aims.

Acting through an elected Committee, the Society keeps a watch on all matters affecting the locality. These include planning applications and development, roads, bridges, bridleways and footpaths, public open spaces, the riverside, tree planting and preservation, local services and so on. We also rely on our members to communicate with the Society on matters of local concern or interest.

Through its presence at local events and its own events programme, the Society also endeavours to contribute to the sense of community in ‘The Cookhams’.

Government, both national and local, has come increasingly to recognise the importance of public opinion in planning and development proposals. They also recognise this opinion can often best be ascertained and expressed through the medium of a local Amenity Society, such as The Cookham Society.

An Annual General Meeting is held in the Spring to elect the Committee for the following year, approve the accounts, etc. Social meetings and events are held from time to time, when members have an opportunity to meet the Committee and discuss matters of local interest.

Periodically, the Society issues a Newsletter reporting on its activities and drawing attention to matters of local concern. On major local issues a Special Meeting will be called to ensure that the Society reflects the majority view.

The Society recognises that in a healthy community such as the Cookhamsthere will always be the need for development. To ensure there is an adequate framework for the consideration of planning proposals the Society has co-sponsored, with Cookham Parish Council, the production of a Village Design Statement.

EXPANDING COOKHAM'S CONSERVATION AREA

In response to the recent public consultation about the village's High Street Conservation Area (CA), organised by the Royal Borough, the Society has suggested that an expansion should be looked into.

"It seems to us" says Tom Denniford, the Society's chairman "that this consultation has presented an opportunity to review whether there are areas adjacent to the existing boundary which should be brought inside it, especially adjacent to Poundfield and to the south east of the village. Also some of the boundaries seem anomalous. There are groups of buildings outside the CA which are mentioned in the Village Design Statement as being of importance to the fabric of the settlement and we feel that this is the time to consider whether they should be given enhanced conservation status."

THE SOCIETY CRITICISES BOROUGH’S APPROACH TO GREEN BELT IN LOCAL PLAN

The Society has strongly criticised the Royal Borough’s approach to the Green Belt in its latest submission to the Inspector of the draft Local Plan which, it says, was a “Piecemeal, bottom-up exercise” instead of a proper Green Belt Review. Given the Borough’s apparent need to take land out of the Green Belt for more housing, which has yet to be justified at the plan’s Examination in Public, the Society says the council should have undertaken a proper assessment and it has requested the Inspector to consider requiring the Royal Borough to do one.

The Cookham Society Design Awards 2018

Pablo Dubois, coordinator of the award, presents the award plaque to Jenny Spray, co-owner of Orchardfields.

There were three buildings nominated for the TheCookham Society Design Award for 2018.They were all houses, one in Cookham and two in the Dean. The Award Assessment Panel was advised byThe Cookham Society’s architectural consultant, Professor Robert Adam, and after a lively debate the panel awarded the prize to Orchardfields, a newly extended and refurbished dwelling in Bigfrith Lane, Cookham Dean. The house is owned by Mr and Mrs Spray, and the architects were Heighway Associates, of Marlow.

The winning entry was revealed at the Society’s AGM on 8th March by the Chairman, Mr Evert Groeneweg, who said that the award had been granted in recognition of the excellence of design achieved and for its consistency with the principles enshrined in the Cookham Village Design Statement. He said, “The Award is for the extension and renovation of a 1920s Tudor style, half-timbered house in an open location in Cookham Dean. This is a large extension, but it fits in well with the existing building, maintaining a low-key approach and the exposed timber features, door and window frames are all consistent with the original design. Seamless continuity with a sometimes unfashionable early-twentieth-century style is unusual and the result is an attractive building which integrates well with the unique green setting and rural character of Cookham Dean.” He added that the Society was delighted to show through the award that it is happy to encourage new high-quality construction, while continuing to oppose developments which it considers inappropriate.

The New General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

The Cookham Society, along with all otherorganizations retaining contact information, is required to comply with the new GDPR regulations. Click on the menu above to see a copy of the letter being sent out to all the Cookham Society’s members about GDPR.

LATEST NEWSLETTERS

VACANCIES FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

We currently have some vacancies on the Cookham Society Committee.

You don’t need any particular qualifications, just an enthusiasm for Cookham. As a society we aim to protect, enhance and preserve all that is most charming about the three villages. We meet for a full committee meeting once a month and there are subcommittees that focus on planning and environment issues. Why not think about joining us and have your say?

The Cookham Society was very pleased to be given “Non-statutory Consultee” status by the Borough in 2015. As the Society represents nearly 1600 members who live in the Cookhams, our comments carry weight when planning decisions affecting Cookham are being considered by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s Panel. In addition to speaking at Panel meetings, we have often submittedlonger and more detailed comments about an application and these are placed on the Borough website.

FACEBOOK

The Cookham Society now has its own Facebook page. If you want to stay updated why not join The Cookham Society Facebook group at: